Demonetisation cloud over Pro Wrestling League

While there are no new dates for the league, it is believed that it will ​not take place before the last week of December.

Even the Wrestling Federation of India is trying to figure out a new date for the league. (Source: File)

The second season of the Pro Wrestling League, which was to start on December 15, has been postponed due to demonetisation, the organisers said on Monday. ProSportify, who conduct the league on behalf of the Wrestling Federation of India, said they are “delaying the start to the second season for a short period of time” due to the ban on old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. However, they are not sure when the league’s second season will begin.

“Due to the demonetisation and keeping in mind stakeholders’ interest, we are re-scheduling the PWL 2. We will announce the new dates most likely by November 30,” Vishal Gurnani, director of ProSportify, said.

It was earlier announced that the second season of PWL will commence on December 15 although they were yet to announce the dates of the player auctions.

“The league will not happen on December 15 as it was announced earlier. Spending money on sponsorship and advertisement is not the priority but we will surely conduct the league in the near future. It’s not far away,” Gurnani said.

Even as the Wrestling Federation of India is trying to figure out a new date for the league and its president Brij Bhusan Singh Saran said the issue will be sorted out in one or two days. “This is not a big issue but the league will be shifted. We will decide the new dates in a day or two,” he added.

While there are no new dates for the league, it is believed that it will not take place before the last week of December. The auctions, which were originally to be held in mid-November, will now be conducted 15 days prior to the commencement of the league.

As a consequence of the delay, the duration of the league will also be shortened due to broadcaster’s demands. “Sony, the official broadcaster of the league has stated that the league can only be telecasted before January 14, even if it’s a league with less number of days. There is no chance it can exceed that window,” a source in the organising committee said. It is also learnt that the sponsors are “taking time to think about payments” and have asked for more time from ProSportify.

Even the earlier plan to increase the number of teams to eight has been dropped and only six teams will compete in the second season, as was the case last time. Meanwhile, the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh franchises will have new owners.